Debian on Freecom Silverstore 2 NAS

Quite recently I have acquired two NAS units "SiverStore 2" manufactured by Freecom. The units are EOL, so no updates on the software side since 2012. However, I have received the root password from the technical support at freecom and via ssh successfully installed Optware-ng and a chrooted debian wheezy. The units itself has a custom-made operating system with kernel 2.6.31, which is quite outdated and does not have many modules, only the bare minimum that is needed to operate that NAS. I have tried to research online if the operating system on those units could be replaced with a Debian for example, however, it seems those units were not very popular so not much luck. Some info could be found here:

As far as I understand the unit is similar to NSA325, however, apparently the stock bootloader is locked to boot only Stock OS. I am not sure if that's the case, hence I wanted to hear your opinion on the matter and maybe an advice. I hope I could either use the stock uboot with a new kernel and Debian or maybe the stock uboot could be replaced with another one. I have two of those NAS units, so I could sacrifice one of them for that project :) I should receive a UART cable on Monday or Tuesday hopefully. Until then I can provide with the following information:

> As far as I understand the unit is similar to
> NSA325, however, apparently the stock bootloader
> is locked to boot only Stock OS. I am not sure if
> that's the case, hence I wanted to hear your
> opinion on the matter and maybe an advice.

By the look of info you got inside stock OS and the links,

- I don't think u-boot is locked at all.
- It has a different u-boot version from the NSA325.
- u-boot envs can be modified to boot Debian

> I hope
> I could either use the stock uboot with a new
> kernel and Debian

This should be feasible. New U-Boot is always a lot more works to do. So running Debian should be the first thing we'd want to do.

> I should receive a UART cable on
> Monday or Tuesday hopefully.

That would be best. When you try to bring up a box to run new kernel, serial console is a must have.

> If you need any other information, please let me
> know. Your help would be appreciated, as I would
> like to give those devices some new life.

In stock OS get output of these and post here:

dmesg
mount

While waiting for serial module converter, you can create a new USB rootfs using Debian-4.12.1-kirkwood-tld-1-rootfs-bodhi.tar.bz2 from the release thread:

Appreciated. I was not expecting such an immediate reply. And apologies for the wrong subforum. I was not sure where to post. Please feel free to move it into an appropriate one.

QuoteBy the look of info you got inside stock OS and the links,

- I don't think u-boot is locked at all.
- It has a different u-boot version from the NSA325.
- u-boot envs can be modified to boot Debian

Yes, I have access via ssh and have been able to test building on the unit and installing packages via Optware. But the kernel is quite old.

I have a fair bit understanding of Linux, but that is not my speciality. I didn't think the u-boot was locked either, as I tested modifying some of the envs and after a reboot they preserved. Hence I thought I should post here and ask for a professional advice.

QuoteWhile waiting for serial module converter, you can create a new USB rootfs using Debian-4.12.1-kirkwood-tld-1-rootfs-bodhi.tar.bz2 from the release thread:

And u-boot is old, so you will need to do Step 4 while creating the USB rootfs, using the NSA325 DTB.

Quote4. Create uImage with embedded DTB for booting with older u-boots (2012 or earlier). Skip this step if you have installed the latest U-Boot for Kirkwood (or are installing this u-boot at the same time).

Please replace kirkwood-goflexnet.dtb below with the correct DTB name for your box (see the folder /media/sdb1/boot/dts for the exact spelling of your Kirkwood box name).

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